A type (tupos) is a prophetic, pictorial preview that finds its fulfillment in an antitype. Types are grounded in historical events, but they are symbolic in import. These forms of figurative prophecy are found in the Old Testament, and they point to Christ and his new covenant regime. Some examples are:
- The passover lamb was a picture of Christ (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7).
- Moses, as a great prophet and leader, was a symbol of Jesus (Dt. 18:15ff).
- Jonah's deliverance from the great fish's belly foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ (Mt. 12:40-41).
- The tabernacle (and later the temple) were types of the church and heaven (Heb. 9:1ff; 1 Cor. 3:16).
See ANTITYPE.